• Vinny Del Negro: A friend of Rivers, Del Negro could be in line to replace him. Del Negro has had tumultuous stints with the Bulls and Clippers, whom he coached last season.

• Stan Van Gundy: Best known for his public feuding with Dwight Howard in Orlando, Van Gundy has had successful stints with the Heat and Magic, and he possesses both a sharp wit and a basketball mind. He has local ties, having coached UMass-Lowell from 1988-92.

• Jeff Van Gundy: Stan’s brother has a pretty good gig as ABC’s lead NBA analyst, and it’s a long shot that the more lucrative coaching profession could lure him back in.

• Brian Shaw: Someone is going to give Shaw an NBA head coaching job at some point, right?

• Lionel Hollins: The former Grizzlies coach did wonders with the likes of Tony Allen and Marc Gasol, turning Memphis into one of the best defensive teams in the league. That’s a philosophy that fits well with what Celtics president Danny Ainge is trying to do.

• J.B. Bickerstaff: The architect of the Houston Rockets’ free-form offense, Bickerstaff could make the Celtics attractive to free agents, provided Kevin McHale would give him up.

• David Fizdale: Hiring the assistant coach and director of player development for the Heat would be a shot across the bow of Boston’s biggest rival.

• Nate McMillan: The former SuperSonics and Trail Blazers coach knows mercurial point guards from playing with Gary Payton, and he may have the discipline and defensive system to make a smooth transition.